After-School Support for Ukrainian Refugee Kids

Summer Camp for Ukrainian Refugee Children

This July, 30 Ukrainian refugee children enrolled in our support program experienced a much-needed escape into nature through a week-long mountain summer camp. The camp was designed not only as a recreational break but also as an opportunity for emotional healing, social bonding, and personal development.

Held in a picturesque mountain setting, the camp offered a variety of structured and spontaneous activities tailored to bring joy and stimulate learning. Children engaged in team-building games that encouraged cooperation and friendship. They participated in creative workshops (crafts), explored nearby trails through guided hikes, and enjoyed swimming in a clean, shallow river — a highlight for many who had never experienced this kind of natural fun before.

Other memorable activities included horseback riding, zip-lining, friendly competitions, and storytelling around the campfire. Each evening ended with laughter, singing, and shared moments that helped the children form new friendships and feel part of a caring community.

For children who have experienced displacement and ongoing uncertainty, this camp was more than just a holiday — it was a space of joy, stability, and emotional reconnection. Many of them expressed how this experience helped them “forget their worries” and “feel like normal kids again.”

Where the Smile Reappears, Healing Begins

We were with the children at camp, during a break between activities. Some of them were joyfully playing on the trampoline in the yard — one of the main attractions in every camp session. We, the adults on the team, were supervising from a distance, making sure everything was safe.

At one point, I heard one of my colleagues say, with emotion in her voice:
"I’m so glad to see D. smiling again."

We looked too. There he was, on the trampoline, laughing, jumping, and joking with the other kids. A simple scene, but one filled with profound meaning. We all knew that D. was a withdrawn child. Ever since he arrived at camp, he seemed wrapped in a heavy silence, hard to break. He rarely interacted with the others.

Our colleague told us with deep sadness:
"Last month, his father died in the war… Since then, he’s been in a state of sorrow, a kind of depression. His mother, left alone with three children, no longer knows what to do. They’re from eastern Ukraine, where the war is still ravaging the region. They can’t go back there. D. was enrolled in the Romanian school and used to come regularly to our Romanian language classes. But after his father’s death, he stopped coming. I’m glad he agreed to come to the camp."

In that blessed mountain silence, the war felt far away. And yet, it was closer than ever. We could see it in the eyes of a child trying to rediscover the joy of living.
Yes, today I saw him smile. Play. Laugh.

And I understood that, where the smile reappears, healing begins.

Holiday Program at the After-school Center
Although the official school year in Romania is on summer break, our After-school Center remained active throughout July to support the children’s continued learning and development. Our dedicated staff provided a well-balanced mix of educational, recreational, and language development activities, adapted to the children's individual needs and interests.

Each day included structured time for creative and practical learning — from arts and crafts to basic life skills — all designed to foster curiosity, self-confidence, and independence. Children had the chance to go on outings to nearby parks, enjoy nature, and experience new environments that sparked their imagination and expanded their sense of safety and belonging.

One of the most exciting highlights of the month was a boat trip on the Danube River. For many of the children, it was their first time on a boat, and the experience left a lasting impression. Such outings offer not only fun and discovery but also critical social learning moments that help with language development, group behavior, and self-expression.

Throughout the summer, we also remained focused on helping the children continue practicing Romanian. Informal language sessions, reading activities, and conversation practice are gently woven into the daily program, ensuring the children retain and build on what they’ve learned. This continuity will ease their transition into the new school year and boost their academic confidence.

Links:

• Video Camp 2025